Giant African snails can infect people with bacteria and parasites, if raw or poorly cooked snail is eaten. They can also transmit disease if handled with bare hands.

Giant African snails have become established in a range of overseas countries.

Its voracious appetite and broad host range make it one of the most damaging land snails. It is considered one of the world's top 100 invasive species. More than 500 plant species are affected including, legumes, ornamental plants, most vegetables, bananas, citrus, even tree bark, natural environment, social amenity and human health.

Australia remains free of this exotic pest and we need your help to keep it this way.

How to identify Giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica)

Everyone needs to keep an eye out for giant African snails.

Giant African snails can arrive in Australia either as adults or as egg masses on imports through our airports or seaports, hitching a ride on:

cars

soil and fertilisers

machinery

shipping containers.

Sometimes snail trails may also be seen.

Eggs can be carried in soil associated with imported goods.

Adult giant African snails:

are around six times larger than the common garden snail

have a long, narrow, cone-shaped shell that is usually 50 to 100 millimeters long, but can reach up to 200 mm long

can vary in colour, but are usually light brown with alternating brown and cream bands on its upper whorls.

Eggs are:

4.5 to 5.5 mm in diameter

cream to yellow in colour

oval in shape

found in batches of between 100 and 400 eggs.

Giant African snail eggs next to a coin that is similar size to our 10 cent coin for comparison.​ Source: Steve Greaves

Adult snails have both female and male sexual organs, and they are prolific egg layers with an average of 1200 eggs produced annually for each mated adult.

Giant African snails prefer warm tropical conditions but can survive temperatures below 2°C by becoming dormant. They are usually active at twilight and during the night, although they will become day-active during rainy and overcast periods.

In large infestations, giant African snails omit an offensive smell.

Importers

If you work around imported goods you need to look for snail trails or giant African snails or their egg masses attached to:

crates

machinery

plant material

shipping containers

conveyances.

Growers and home gardeners

Snails lay their eggs in soil.

If you use imported fertiliser, check your plants for signs of snail activity.

Take action if you find a snail that is much larger than the common garden snail.

Keep Giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica) out of Australia

All Australians and international tourists have a role to keep out exotic pests and diseases.

Giant African snails have become established in a range of overseas countries. Australia remains free of this exotic pest and we need your help to keep it this way.

Check what you can and cannot bring into Australia, whether you are a:

Import restrictions and biosecurity measures

Be aware of any giant African snail biosecurity measures that may be in place for incoming goods and conveyances.
Industry advice notices are reviewed regularly and could change.

Secure any suspect specimens

Containment is critical. Giant African snails do not move fast, but you must contain one if you see it.

Wear gloves to collect individual snails or eggs and place them in a sealed container. Inspect the area where you found the snail and try to trace it to the source.

Report detections of exotic pests

Any detections of giant African snail must be reported to authorities.

Import community

If you receive or work around goods imported from overseas, including mail, you need to be vigilant to giant African snail and other exotic pests.

If you see an unusual pest, secure the goods to limit the movement of the pest and immediately report it to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
See.Secure.Report. Hotline 1800 798 636 or by using the
online form.

Growers and home gardeners

If you see the giant African snail or anything unusual, report it to the
Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881. This will put you in touch with the Department of Primary Industries or agriculture in your state or territory.

When reporting your concern, you will be given advice on handling the specimen and what to do next until an officer can investigate.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.